Basket liner having a bonding material thereon and method

ABSTRACT

A basket liner constructed from a preformed sheet of material, the basket liner having an upper end, a lower end, an opening in the upper end forming an inner surface, and an outer periphery forming an outer surface, a bonding material disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the basket liner, the basket, or both, for bondingly connecting the basket liner to the basket. A method for disposing a basket liner into a basket.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/113,873 filed on Aug.27, 1993 now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/968,798, filed Oct. 30, 1992, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECTWITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, now U.S.Pat. No. 5,369,934, which is a continuation of 07/865,563, filed May 9,1992, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING PORTIONS OF AN OBJECTWITH A SHEET OF MATERIAL HAVING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE COATINGAPPLIED TO AT LEAST A PORTION OF AT LEAST ONE SURFACE OF THE SHEET OFMATERIAL, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,814, which is a continuation of U.S.Ser. No. 07/649,379, filed Jan. 31, 1991, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPINGAN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON,now U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988, entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECTWITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, nowABANDONED, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 219,083,filed Jul. 13, 1988, entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No.4,897,031, which is a continuation of 004,275, filed Jan. 5, 1987,entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182 which is acontinuation of 613,080, filed May 22, 1984, now ABANDONED.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.08/024,573, filed Mar. 1, 1993, entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, nowabandoned, which is a continuation of 07/464,694, filed Jan. 16, 1990,entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,027, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 219,083, filed Jul. 13, 1988, entitledARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,031, which is acontinuation of 004,275, filed Jan. 5, 1987, entitled ARTICLE FORMINGSYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182 which is a continuation of 613,080,filed May 22, 1984, now ABANDONED.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.07/781,040, filed Oct. 21, 1991, entitled BASKET LINING MATERIAL HAVINGAN ADHESIVE OR COHESIVE THEREON AND METHOD, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 07/649,379, filed Jan. 31, 1991,entitled METHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURESENSITIVE ADHESIVE THEREON, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638, which is acontinuation of U.S. Ser. No. 07/249,761, filed Sep. 26, 1988. entitledMETHOD FOR WRAPPING AN OBJECT WITH A MATERIAL HAVING PRESSURE SENSITIVEADHESIVE THEREON, now ABANDONED, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Ser. No. 219,083, filed Jul. 13, 1988, entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,031, which is a continuation of 004,275, filedJan. 5, 1987, entitled ARTICLE FORMING SYSTEM, now U.S. Pat. No.4,773,182 which is a continuation of 613,080, filed May 22, 1984, nowABANDONED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to basket liners and, moreparticularly, to basket liners having a bonding material thereon, andmethods of using same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the basket liner of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a basket used in conjunction with thepresent invention, the cross-hatching representing the texture andcontour of both the inner and outer surfaces of the basket.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the basket liner of FIG. 1, partiallydisposed in the basket of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the basket liner of FIG. 1, disposed inthe basket of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the basket linerof the present invention, this modified basket liner having no skirt.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified basket used in conjunctionwith the present invention as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the basket liner of FIG. 5, partiallydisposed in the basket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the basket liner of FIG. 5, disposed inthe basket of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional partial view of FIG. 8 taken alongthe lines 9--9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment the basket linerof the present invention, the modified basket liner shown partiallydisposed in a basket substantially similar to the one shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the modified basket liner shown in FIG.10, disposed in the basket substantially similar to the basket shown inFIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional partial view of FIG. 11 takenalong the lines 12--12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments and Method of FIGS.1-4

Basket liners are used to isolate the contents of a basket from thebasket itself. In the past, basket liners have been made from cloth, orsimilar materials, and hand-sewn into a basket, and have been formedfrom plastic into a short, bowl-shaped, non-flexible bowls or saucerswhich are used as basket liners, and have been disposed in a basket.These forms of basket liners have a number of problems.

First, basket liners made from cloth are usually sewn into baskets madein third world countries. The cloth liners frequently are poorly sewn,and rip out during shipment and/or use. Further, in third worldcountries, where a large number of the commercially available basketsare made, the cloth lining material is frequently sewn into the basketby the same person who made the basket. Therefore, labor costs, andconcerns regarding sanitary conditions of both the basket and the linerarise. Next, when a non-flexible plastic bowl or saucer is disposed inthe basket, it is often difficult to nest (stack one basket inside thenext, and so on) the baskets together for shipment. Further, the plasticbowl or saucer frequently falls out of the basket. And because of itsrigidity and lack of significant flexibility, the plastic bowl or saucercracks, thereby defeating the purpose of isolating the contents of thebasket from the basket. Finally, the non-flexible plastic bowl or sauceris usually considerably more expensive than sheet material.

The present invention contemplates the use of a flexible sheet ofmaterial pre-formed into the shape of a basket liner. The present basketliner is characteristically substantially flexible and non-tearable, andcapable of being made in many different shapes and sizes to conform tothe shape and size of the inner periphery of many different baskets. Thebasket liner disclosed herein also may have a bonding material disposedupon at least a portion of the outer periphery of the basket liner,thereby permitting a connection between the inner periphery and theinner surface of the basket and the outer periphery and the outersurface of the basket liner. Such a connection permits easier nesting(stacking) of baskets having basket liners disposed therein forshipment. Such basket liners may be pre-formed in sanitary conditions,and may be maintained in sanitary conditions, before being disposed in abasket. Finally the costs of making the presently disclosed basketliners and disposing such basket liners in a basket is less. The presentbasket liner is made from sheet material, as opposed to a more expensiveplastic. And, the present basket liner may be rapidly disposed in abasket via an automated method, or rapidly by hand, as opposed to havingto be substantially formed and sewn into a basket, thereby saving timeand labor costs.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, designated generally by the reference numeral 10is a basket liner which is pre-formed and constructed from a sheet ofmaterial 12 in accordance with the present invention for lining at leasta portion of a basket. The basket liner 10 has an upper end 14, a lowerend 16, and an outer periphery 18 which forms an outer surface 20, anopening 22 being formed in the basket liner 10 with a portion of theopening 22 intersecting the upper end 14 of the basket liner 10 formingan inner periphery 24 and an inner surface 26. The portion of the basketliner 10, extending from the upper end 14 to the lower end 16 is termedthe base 28. Attached to the base 28, at the opening 22, is a skirt 30.The skirt 30 shown herein is square, and pleated, but it will beappreciated that any shape or size of skirt 30 may be connected to thebase 28, and extend from the base 28. It will also be understood thatthe skirt 30 can be formed from a portion of the sheet of material 12,or the skirt 30 may be formed from another sheet of material 12 which isattached to the base 30 near the opening 22, such attachment being madevia bonding material, heat sealing the skirt 30 to the base 28, or byany other method known in the art. The skirt 30 shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and4, has an upper surface 32 which is contiguous with the inner surface 26of the base 28, a lower surface 34 which is contiguous with the outersurface 20 of the base 28, and an outer periphery 36.

The skirt 30 may be decorative, that is, have any manner of decorativematerial used therein. Further, decorative designs may be utilized, suchas a ruffled design in the skirt, a scalloped design around the edge ofthe skirt (not shown), or any other designs known in the art. It will beappreciated that the basket liner 10 may be formed without a skirt 30,having only a base 28, as shown in FIGS. 5-12.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-4, it will be understood that the basket liner10 is preformed from a sheet of material 12, and will retain itspreformed shape. The basket liner 10, is also substantially flexible,and substantially non-tearable.

The base 28 of the basket liner 10 has formed therein overlapping folds37 (only one such overlapping fold being designated with referencenumeral 37 in FIG. 1). The overlapping folds 37 extend at differentangles and over different lengths, being generally asymmetrical andnon-geometric in form. The skirt 30 of the basket liner 10 may also haveoverlapping folds 37.

Materials and methods of forming a sheet of material 12 into an article,such an article including a basket liner, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.4,773,182, entitled, "Article Forming System," U.S. Pat. No. 4,897,031,entitled, "Article Forming System," and U.S. Pat. No. 5,208,027,entitled "Article Forming System," all of which are hereby incorporatedby reference herein.

It will be appreciated that the basket liner 10 may form any shape orsize, including, but not by way of limitation, any geometric,non-geometric, asymmetric of fanciful shape and/or size. It will also beappreciated that the base 28 of the basket liner 10 and/or the skirt 30of the basket liner 10 may vary in size and/or in shape. The "base," asused herein, includes both the portions of the basket liner 10 extendinggenerally between the lower end 16 and the upper end 14 of the basketliner 10 as well as the portions extending about the outer periphery 18and the outer surface 10, which may follow the contours of the innersurface of a basket 38 (in this instance, as shown in FIGS. 3-4, thefrusto-conical shape of the basket), before extending into a skirt 30.Alternatively, however, the basket liner 10 may comprise a size and/orshape which does not conform or correspond precisely to the size and/orshape of the basket 38 it will be disposed in. Such alternative anddiffering sizes and shapes of the basket liner 10 may be used to createunique design appearances within the basket 38 using one or more basketliners 10 (for instance, a heart-shaped basket liner is disposed in asquare basket for Valentine's Day).

One type of basket is shown in FIGS. 2-4, and is generally designated bythe numeral 38. The basket 38 has an upper end 40, a lower end 42, andan outer periphery 44 which forms an outer surface 46, an opening 48being formed in the basket 38 with a portion of the opening 48intersecting the upper end 40 of the basket 38 forming an innerperiphery 50 and an inner surface 52. This portion of the basket 38,extending from the upper end 40 to the lower end 42 and including, butnot limited to, the inner periphery 50 and the inner surface 52 is thebase 54. The basket has contours 55 (only one contour designated by thereference numeral 55 in FIG. 2) which comprises contours 55 formedwithin the basket 38, and which are at least partially exposed upon theinner surface 52 of the basket 38. Such contours include, but not by wayof limitation, textures, shapes, or any combination thereof.

The basket opening 48 is sized and shaped for receiving items (notshown), and the items are retained in the basket opening 48 by thebasket 38. Baskets 38 may be made from a variety of materials. Suchmaterials include, but not by way of limitation, wicker, wood, fiber(natural or synthetic), paper, grain, plastic, metal, glass, burlap,leather, or combinations thereof. Examples of baskets 38 which are usedin accordance with the present invention include, but are not limitedto, fruit baskets, gift baskets, Easter baskets, and picnic baskets.Further, the term "basket" as used herein includes trays, such as foodtrays, display trays, and produce trays. Another type of basketcontemplated by the present invention are baskets used to contain a pot,such as a flower pot, which may contain living plants within the pot.The term "flower pot" means any type of floral container used to holdplants. In a further alternative, the basket 38 may contain a floralgrouping (not shown).

"Floral grouping" as used herein means cut fresh flowers, artificialflowers, other fresh and/or artificial plants or other floral materialsand may include other secondary plants and/or ornamentation which add tothe aesthetics of the overall floral grouping. The floral groupingcomprises a flower portion which may comprise either a bloom or foliageportion (not shown), and a stem portion (not shown). However, it will beappreciated that the floral grouping may consist of only a single bloomor only foliage (not shown).

The basket 38 may comprise any size or shape. That is, the basket 38 mayform any geometric shape, non-geometric shape, asymmetrical shape,fanciful shape (such as a heart or a flower), or any combinationthereof.

Referring to FIGS. 1, and 3-4, the basket liner 10 is formed from asheet of material 12. The sheet of material 12 generally has an uppersurface 62, a lower surface 64, and an outer periphery 66 (the sheet ofmaterial 12 being shown in FIG. 1 only after being formed into a basketliner 10).

The sheet of material 12 has a thickness in a range from about 0.1 milsto about 30 mils. Preferably, the sheet of material 10 has a thicknessin a range from about 0.1 mils to about 5 mils.

The sheet of material 12 may be any shape, a square shape beinggenerally suggested in FIG. 1 only by way of example. The sheet ofmaterial 12, however, may be square, rectangular, circular or any othergeometric shape. Further, the sheet of material 12 may be anynon-geometric or fanciful shape, such as heart shaped, for example only.It will be appreciated that the shape of the sheet of material 12 doesnot necessarily need to conform with the shape of the basket 38requiring a basket liner 10, that is, a round sheet of material 12 maybe formed to line a square basket 38, the round sheet of material 12being formed into a square which conforms to the inner surface 52 of thebasket 38. Alternatively, however, special design effects may beachieved by forming a basket liner 10 into a round shape, for instance,and then placing the round shaped basket liner 10 into a square basket38.

The sheet of material 12 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 12 may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention as long as the sheet of material12 is capable of flexibility and capable of being pre-formed into anobject, namely, the basket liner 10 described herein. The layers ofmaterial comprising the sheet of material 12 may be connected togetheror laminated or may be separate layers, and the layers of materialcomprising the sheet of material 12 need not be uniform in shape orcomposition. Finally, it will be appreciated that the sheets of material12 shown in all embodiments herein are substantially flat.

The sheet of material 12 may be constructed of a single layer ofmaterial or a plurality of layers of the same or different types ofmaterials. Any thickness of the sheet of material 12 may be utilized inaccordance with the present invention as long as the sheet of material12 may be pre-formed into a basket liner 10, as described herein.Additionally, an insulating material such as bubble film, preferable asone of two or more layers, can be utilized in order to provideadditional protection for the items to be contained within the basketliner 10. Such bubble film may be connected to the basket liner 10 byany material and any method described herein, or known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment, the first sheet of material 12 is constructedfrom two polypropylene films (a 20"×15" sheet of Mobil 270 ABW whiteopaque film laminated to a 20"×15" sheet of Mobil 220AB clear film)having a thickness in a range of from less than about 1.0 mil to about2.5 mils. The layers of material comprising the sheet of material 12 maybe connected together or laminated or may be separate layers.

The sheet of material 12 is constructed from any suitable material thatis capable of being preformed into a basket liner 10, and whichfunctions as described herein. Preferably, the sheet of material 12comprises paper (untreated or treated in any manner), cellophane, foil,polymer film, fabric (woven or nonwoven or synthetic or natural),burlap, or combinations thereof.

The term "polymer film" means a man-made polymer such as a polypropyleneor a naturally occurring polymer such as cellophane. A polymer film isrelatively strong and not as subject to tearing (substantiallynon-tearable), as might be the case with paper or foil.

The sheet of material 12 may vary in color. Further, the sheet ofmaterial 12 may consist of designs or decorative patterns which areprinted, etched, and/or embossed thereon using inks or other printingmaterials. An example of an ink which may be applied to the surface ofthe sheet of material 12 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,706entitled "Water Based Ink On Foil And/Or synthetic organic polymer"issued to Kingman on Sep. 15, 1992 and which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. In addition, the sheet of material 12 may havevarious colorings, coatings, flocking and/or metallic finishes, or otherdecorative surface ornamentation applied separately or simultaneously ormay be characterized totally or partially by pearlescent, translucent,transparent, iridescent or the like, qualities. Each of the above-namedcharacteristics may occur alone or in combination and may be applied tothe upper and/or lower surface of the sheet of material 12. Moreover,each surface of the sheet of material 12 may vary in the combination ofsuch characteristics. The sheet of material 12 itself may be opaque,translucent or partially clear or tinted transparent.

A bonding material 68 may be disposed on at least a portion of the outersurface 20 of the basket liner 10. Alternatively, the basket liner 10may be free of a bonding material 68, the bonding material 68 beinginstead disposed upon at least a portion of the inner surface of thebasket 38. As shown in FIG. 1, the bonding material 68 is disposed in apreferred embodiment adjacent the outer surface 20 of the basket liner10 and extends generally between the upper and lower ends 14 and 16,respectively, of the base 28 of the basket liner 10. Such bondingmaterial 68 may also be disposed upon a portion of the skirt 30, such asa portion of the lower surface 34 of the skirt 30. As shown in FIG. 1,the bonding material 68 is disposed substantially over the outer surface20 of the basket liner 10, although the bonding material 68 also couldbe applied to the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 in the form ofspaced apart spots (FIGS. 10-12) or the bonding material 68 also couldbe disposed on the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 in any othergeometric forms or non-geometric and in any pattern including coveringthe entire outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10, or, alternatively,the entire outer surface 20 and inner surface 26 of the basket liner 10.The term "spot" or "spots" as used herein includes any geometric shapeof spot including, but not limited to, what is commonly referred to asstrips, as well as non-geometric, asymmetric, or fanciful (such as aheart or daisy pattern, for example) designs.

The term "bonding material" as used herein means an adhesive, preferablya pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive. Where the bonding materialis a cohesive, a similar cohesive material must be placed on theadjacent surface for bondingly contacting and bondingly engaging withthe cohesive material. The term "bonding material" also includesmaterials which are heat sealable and, in this instance, the adjacentportions of the material must be brought into contact and then heat mustbe applied to effect the seal. The term "bonding material" also includesmaterials which are sonic sealable and vibratory sealable. The term"bonding material" when used herein also means a heat sealing lacquerwhich may be applied to the sheet of material and, in this instance,heat, sound waves, or vibrations, also must be applied to effect thesealing.

The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any type ofmaterial or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connectingof the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material toeffect the connection or bonding described herein. The term "bondingmaterial" also includes ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tape,staples or combinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials wouldsecure the ends of the material while other bonding material may bindthe circumference of the wrapper. Another way to secure the wrapping isto heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of thematerial. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

The term "bonding material" when used herein also means any heat orchemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or otherelectrical means, magnetic means, mechanical or barb-type fasteningmeans or clamps, curl-type characteristics of the film or materialsincorporated in the sheet of material which can cause the material totake on certain shapes, and any type of welding method which may weldportions of the sheet to itself or to the pot, or to both the sheetitself and the pot.

One such bonding material 68 is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,638,entitled, "Method For Wrapping An Object With A Material Having PressureSensitive Adhesive Thereon," which is hereby incorporated by referenceherein. Other bonding materials 68 are known in the art and commerciallyavailable. The bonding material 68 may be disposed upon the sheet ofmaterial 12 before it is formed into a basket liner, or, alternatively,the bonding material 68 may be disposed upon the basket liner 10 afterit is formed. The bonding material may be disposed by spraying,painting, brushing, lacquering, immersing at least a portion of thesheet of material 12 or the formed basket liner 10 in the bondingmaterial 68, or mechanically, or by hand, by any method known in theart.

The bonding material 68 described herein may be provided with at leastone release strip (not shown). A release strip is used to protect thebonding material disposed on the basket liner 10, before the basketliner 10 is disposed adjacent the inner surface 26 of the basket 38. Arelease strip has an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outerperiphery. One surface of the release strip is disposed adjacent thebonding material 68 on the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10. Itwill be appreciated that the release strip is also substantially flat,and that the release strip is removed prior to disposing the basketliner 10 into a basket 38.

FIGS. 3-4 illustrate one method of use of the present invention. First,both a preformed basket liner 10, and a basket 38, as described indetail above, are provided. Items, namely, items which are sized andshaped to fit into a basket, may also be provided. Then, the basketliner 10 is disposed through the basket opening 48 in the upper end 40of the basket 38 with the lower end 16 of the basket liner 10 enteringthe opening 48 first, the lower end 16 of the basket liner 10 disposedadjacent to the inside surface 52 and the lower end 42 of the basket 42with the upper end 14 of the basket liner 10 generally in correspondingalignment with the upper end 40 of the basket 38, both the outerperiphery 18 and the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 also beingadjacent to and in corresponding alignment with the inner periphery 50and the inner surface 52 of the basket 38, the bonding material 68 onthe outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 disposed adjacent to and incontacting engagement with the inner surface 52 of the basket 38, thebonding material 68 disposed to bondingly contact and connect the basketliner 10 in a firm yet releasable engagement to the basket 38.

The basket liner 10 is disposed over the inner surface 52 of the basket38 to permit the bonding material 68 on the outer surface 20 of thebasket liner 10 to bondingly contact the inner surface 52 of the basket38 for bondingly connecting the basket liner 10 to the basket 38.However, in certain applications, like portions of the outer surface 20of the basket liner 10 may bondingly contact and connect to other likeportions of the outer surface 52 of the basket liner 10, in order tomore closely conform to the contours 55 on the inner surface 52 of thebasket 38, forming overlapping folds which are non-geometric and extendin many different angles and over many different lengths, therebypermitting the basket liner 10 to more closely conform and correspond tothe contours 55 on the inner surface 52 of the basket 38. The bondingmaterial 68 on the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 contacts theinner surface 52 of the basket 38, bondingly connecting the basket liner10 to the inner surface 52 of the basket 12. The connections of thebasket liner 10 to like portions thereof and to the contours 55 and theinner surface 52 of the basket 38 produce a customized fit of the basketliner 10 to the inner surface 52 of the basket 38.

Items may be placed within the basket liner 10. The basket liner 10remains connected to the basket 38 before, during, and after items areplaced within the basket liner 10 (which is disposed within andconnected to the basket 38) and retained within the basket 38.

Embodiments and Method of FIGS. 5-9

Illustrated in FIGS. 5-9 is a modified basket liner 10a and a modifiedbasket 38a both of which are constructed exactly like the basket liner10 and the basket 38 shown in FIGS. 1-4 and described in detailpreviously, except that the basket liner 10a is bowl-shaped, the basketliner 10a has no skirt 30, and the basket 38a is bowl-shaped.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, the basket liner 10a is disposed in the basket38a by the same method shown in FIGS. 3-4 and previously described indetail.

Embodiments and Method of FIGS. 10-12

Illustrated in FIGS. 10-12 is a modified basket liner 10b and a modifiedbasket 38b, both of which are constructed exactly like the basket liner10a and the basket 38a shown in FIGS. 5-9 and described in detailpreviously, except that the basket liner 10b has spots of bondingmaterial 68b disposed on the outer surface 20b of the basket liner 10b.

Referring to FIGS. 10-12, the basket liner 10b is disposed in the basket38b by the same method shown in both FIGS. 3-4 and FIGS. 7-9 previouslydescribed in detail.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the bonding material 68 is disposedupon at least a portion of the inner surface 52 of the basket 38, aswell as upon a portion of the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10.Alternatively, the bonding material 68 may be disposed only upon atleast a portion of the inner surface 52 of the basket 38, while thebasket liner 10 has no bonding material 68 thereon (not shown).

In a method of use (not shown) of this latter embodiment, the outersurface 20 of the basket liner 10, when disposed adjacent the innersurface 52, would be contacted by the bonding material 68 disposed uponat least a portion of the inner surface 52 of the basket. The bondingmaterial 68 on the inner surface 52 of the basket out then bondinglycontact and connect to the outer surface of the basket liner 10, forbondingly connecting the outer surface 20 of the basket liner 10 to theinner surface 52 of the basket 38, in a manner substantially similar toand consistent with the methods previously shown and described herein indetail.

In a final alternative embodiment (not shown), the basket liner 10 maybe formed into a shape different from the basket 38. That is, forexample, the basket liner 10 is heart-shaped, and is disposed into asquare basket 38. In this alternative, only a limited portion of thebasket liner 10, such as, but not by way of limitation, the outersurface 20 only at the lower end 16 of the basket liner 10 is connectedto the inner surface 52 of the basket 38 only at the lower end 42 of thebasket 38. It will be appreciated that the basket liner 10 will bedisposed in the basket by any method shown and/or described in detailherein, the only difference in the method being that only a selectedportion or selected portions of the basket liner 10 will bondinglyconnect to the basket 38.

Changes may be made in the embodiments of the invention described hereinor in parts or elements of the embodiments described herein or in thesteps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article comprising a basket liner, made byforming at least one sheet of material into a predetermined shape forboth lining a basket and receiving an object, wherein the basket linercomprises:a base having a closed lower end and an open upper end and anouter periphery forming an outer surface, the open upper end intersectedby an object opening extending therethrough, said object opening formingan inner surface, a bonding material disposed upon a portion of theouter surface, wherein the sheet of material is selected from the groupconsisting of a relatively thin polymer film, a relatively thin foil,and combinations thereof, the sheet of material which normally isflexible and substantially non-shape-sustaining, wherein the formedbasket liner is flexible and may be substantially flattened and thenunflattened to assume the original shape of the formed basket linerwithout substantial loss of the preformed shape thereby providing theflexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formed basket liner, whereinthe forming of the sheet is accomplished by substantially permanentlyfixing a portion of the sheet into a plurality of overlapping folds toform the base of the basket liner and for cooperating to retain thebasket liner in the formed shape, and wherein the sheet of material hasa thickness of less than about 1.5 mil.
 2. The basket liner of claim 1wherein the basket liner has a decorative border extending outwardlyfrom the open upper end of the base.
 3. The article of claim 2 whereinthe decorative border is substantially free of substantially permanentlyfixed overlapping folds.
 4. The basket liner of claim 1 wherein asubstantial portion of the overlapping folds extend over differentdistances and at various and arbitrary angles.
 5. A basket linerassembly, comprising:a basket; and a basket liner, made by forming atleast one sheet of material into a predetermined shape for both lining abasket and receiving an object, wherein the basket liner comprises abase having a closed lower end and an open upper end and an outerperiphery forming an outer surface, the open upper end intersected by anobject opening extending therethrough, said object opening forming aninner surface, a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outersurface, wherein the sheet of material is selected from the groupconsisting of a relatively thin polymer film, a relatively thin foil,and combinations thereof, the sheet of material which normally isflexible and substantially non-shape-sustaining, wherein the formedbasket liner is flexible and may be substantially flattened and thenunflattened to assume the original shape of the formed basket linerwithout substantial loss of the preformed shape thereby providing theflexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formed basket liner, whereinthe forming of the sheet is accomplished by substantially permanentlyfixing a portion of the sheet into a plurality of overlapping folds toform the base of the basket liner and for cooperating to retain thebasket liner in the formed shape, and wherein the sheet of material hasa thickness of less than about 1.5 mil.
 6. The basket liner of claim 5wherein the basket liner has a decorative border extending outwardlyfrom the open upper end of the base.
 7. The article of claim 6 whereinthe decorative border is substantially free of substantially permanentlyfixed overlapping folds.
 8. The basket liner of claim 5 wherein asubstantial portion of the overlapping folds extend over differentdistances and at various and arbitrary angles.
 9. A basket linerassembly, comprising:a basket; and a basket liner, made by forming atleast one sheet of material into a predetermined shape for both lining abasket and receiving an object, wherein the basket liner comprises abase having a closed lower end and an open upper end and an outerperiphery forming an outer surface, the open upper end intersected by anobject opening extending therethrough, said object opening forming aninner surface, a bonding material disposed upon a portion of the outersurface, wherein the sheet of material is flexible and substantiallynon-shape-sustaining, wherein the formed basket liner is flexible andmay be substantially flattened and then unflattened to assume theoriginal shape of the formed basket liner without substantial loss ofthe preformed shape thereby providing the flexible yet shape-sustainingnature of the formed basket liner, wherein the forming of the sheet isaccomplished by substantially permanently fixing a portion of the sheetinto a plurality of overlapping folds to form the base of the basketliner, said formed folds cooperating to retain the basket liner in theformed shape.
 10. A method for lining a basket, comprising:providing abasket having an inner surface; providing a pre-formed basket liner,said basket liner made by forming at least one sheet of flexiblematerial into a predetermined shape for both lining a basket andreceiving an object, wherein the basket liner comprisesa base having aclosed lower end and an open upper end and an outer periphery forming anouter surface, the open upper end intersected by an object openingextending therethrough, said object opening forming an inner surface, abonding material comprising an adhesive disposed upon a portion of theouter surface, wherein folds are formed in both the outer surface of thebasket liner and the inner surface of the basket liner, whereby theformed basket liner is flexible and may be substantially flattened andthen unflattended to assume the original shape of the formed basketliner without substantial loss of the preformed shape thereby providingthe flexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formed basket liner,wherein the forming of the liner is accomplished by forming a portion ofthe sheet into a plurality of folds to form the base of the basketliner, said folds cooperating to retain the basket liner in both theflexible and formed shape, wherein the base is able to stand upright onthe closed lower end thereof; disposing the preformed basket liner intothe basket; adapting the basket liner to the basket, wherein a basketliner of a size and shape different from the size and shape of thebasket conforms to fit into the inner surface of the basket; andbondingly connecting at least a portion of the outer surface of thebasket liner to at least a portion of the inner surface of the basketsuch that at least a portion of the adhesive on the outer surface of thebasket liner is adjacent to and in connecting engagement with at least aportion of the inner surface of the basket, the preformed basket linerremaining upright when connected to the basket.
 11. The method forlining a basket of claim 10 wherein in the step of providing a basketliner, the basket liner further comprises a decorative border extendingoutwardly from the open upper end of the base.
 12. The method for lininga basket of claim 11 wherein the decorative border is substantially freeof folds.
 13. The method for lining a basket of claim 10 wherein in thestep of providing a basket liner, the basket liner further comprisesoverlapping folds which extend over different distances and at variousand arbitrary angles.
 14. The method for lining a basket of claim 10wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basket linerfurther comprises a sheet of material comprising a relatively thinpolymer film which is flexible and substantially non-shape sustaining.15. The method for lining a basket of claim 10 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet ofmaterial having a thickness of less than about 3.0 mils.
 16. The methodfor lining a basket of claim 10 wherein in the step of providing abasket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet of materialhaving a thickness of less than about 30 mils.
 17. A method for lining abasket, comprising:providing a basket having an opening therein formingan inner surface; providing a pre-formed basket liner, said basket linermade by forming at least one sheet of flexible material into apredetermined shape for both lining a basket and receiving an object,wherein the basket liner comprisesa base having a closed lower end andan open upper end and an outer periphery forming an outer surface, theopen upper end intersected by an object opening extending therethrough,said object opening forming an inner surface, a bonding materialdisposed upon a portion of the outer surface, the base furthercomprising a decorative border extending outwardly from the open upperend thereof, wherein folds are formed in both the outer surface of thebasket liner and the inner surface of the basket liner, whereby theformed basket liner is flexible and may be substantially flattened andthen unflattended to assume the original shape of the formed basketliner without substantial loss of the preformed shape thereby providingthe flexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formed basket liner,wherein the forming of the liner is accomplished by forming a portion ofthe sheet into a plurality of folds to form the base of the basketliner, said folds cooperating to retain the basket liner in both theflexible and formed shape; wherein the base is able to stand upright onthe closed lower end thereof; disposing the preformed basket liner intothe basket; adapting the basket liner to the basket, wherein a basketliner of a size and shape different from the size and shape of thebasket conforms to fit into the inner surface of the basket; andbondingly connecting at least a portion of the outer surface of thebasket liner to at least a portion of the inner surface of the basket,the preformed basket liner remaining upright when connected to thebasket a portion of the decorative border extending outwardly away fromthe opening in the basket.
 18. The method for lining a basket of claim17 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the decorativeborder of the basket liner is substantially free of folds.
 19. Themethod for lining a basket of claim 17 wherein in the step of providinga basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet of materialcomprising a relatively thin polymer film which is flexible andsubstantially non-shape sustaining.
 20. The method for lining a basketof claim 17 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a sheet of material having a thickness of lessthan about 3.0 mils.
 21. The method for lining a basket of claim 17wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basket linerfurther comprises a sheet of material having a thickness of less thanabout 30 mils.
 22. The method for lining a basket of claim 17 wherein inthe step of providing a basket liner, the basket liner further comprisesa bonding material comprising an adhesive.
 23. The method of lining abasket of claim 17 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, thebasket liner further comprises a bonding material comprising a cohesive.24. The method of lining a basket of claim 17 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket, the basket further comprises a bonding material. 25.The method of lining a basket of claim 24 wherein the basket furthercomprises a bonding material comprising an adhesive.
 26. The method oflining a basket of claim 24 wherein the basket further comprises abonding material comprising a cohesive.
 27. The method of lining abasket of claim 17 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, thebasket liner further comprises a substantial portion of folds whichextend over different distances and at various and arbitrary angles. 28.The method of lining of basket of claim 10 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet ofmaterial selected from the group consisting of polymer film, foil,paper, cellophane, fabric, burlap and combinations thereof.
 29. Themethod of lining of basket of claim 17 wherein in the step of providinga basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet of materialselected from the group consisting of polymer film, foil, paper,cellophane, fabric, burlap and combinations thereof.
 30. A method forlining a basket, comprising:providing a basket having an inner surface,said inner surface having a cohesive disposed thereon; providing apre-formed basket liner, said basket liner made by forming at least onesheet of flexible material into a predetermined shape for both lining abasket and receiving an object, wherein the basket liner comprisesa basehaving a closed lower end and an open upper end and an outer peripheryforming an outer surface, the open upper end intersected by an objectopening extending therethrough, said object opening forming an innersurface, a bonding material comprising a cohesive disposed upon aportion of the outer surface, wherein folds are formed in both the outersurface of the basket liner and the inner surface of the basket liner,whereby the formed basket liner is flexible and may be substantiallyflattened and then unflattended to assume the original shape of theformed basket liner without substantial loss of the preformed shapethereby providing the flexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formedbasket liner, wherein the forming of the liner is accomplished byforming a portion of the sheet into a plurality of folds to form thebase of the basket liner, said folds cooperating to retain the basketliner in both the flexible and formed shape, wherein the base is able tostand upright on the closed lower end thereof; disposing the preformedbasket liner into the basket; adapting the basket liner to the basket,wherein a basket liner of a size and shape different from the size andshape of the basket conforms to fit into the inner surface of thebasket; and bondingly connecting at least a portion of the outer surfaceof the basket liner to at least a portion of the inner surface of thebasket such that at least a portion of the cohesive on the outer surfaceof the basket liner is adjacent to and in connecting engagement with atleast a portion of the cohesive on the inner surface of the basket, thepreformed basket liner remaining upright when connected to the basket.31. The method of lining of basket of claim 30 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises adecorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of thebase.
 32. The method of lining of basket of claim 31 wherein in the stepof providing a basket liner, the decorative border of the basket lineris substantially free of folds.
 33. The method of lining a basket ofclaim 30 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a substantial portion of folds which extend overdifferent distances and at various and arbitrary angles.
 34. The methodof lining a basket of claim 30 wherein in the step of providing a basketliner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet of material selectedfrom the group consisting of polymer film, foil, paper, cellophane,fabric, burlap, and combinations thereof.
 35. The method of lining abasket of claim 30 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, thebasket liner further comprises a sheet of material having a thickness ofless than about 3.0 mils.
 36. The method of lining a basket of claim 30wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basket linerfurther comprises a sheet of material having a thickness of less thanabout 30 mils.
 37. A method for lining a basket, comprising:providing abasket having an inner surface; providing a pre-formed basket liner,said basket liner made by forming at least one sheet of flexiblematerial into a predetermined shape for both lining a basket andreceiving an object, wherein the basket liner comprisesa base having aclosed lower end and an open upper end and an outer periphery forming anouter surface, the open upper end intersected by an object openingextending therethrough, said object opening forming an inner surface, abonding material disposed upon a portion of the outer surface, whereinfolds are formed in both the outer surface of the basket liner and theinner surface of the basket liner, a substantial portion of the foldsextending over different distances and at various and arbitrary angles,whereby the formed basket liner is flexible and may be substantiallyflattened and then unflattended to assume the original shape of theformed basket liner without substantial loss of the preformed shapethereby providing the flexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formedbasket liner, wherein the forming of the liner is accomplished byforming a portion of the sheet into a plurality of folds to form thebase of the basket liner, said folds cooperating to retain the basketliner in both the flexible and formed shape, wherein the base is able tostand upright on the closed lower end thereof; disposing the preformedbasket liner into the basket; adapting the basket liner to the basket,wherein a basket liner of a size and shape different from the size andshape of the basket conforms to fit into the inner surface of thebasket; and bondingly connecting at least a portion of the outer surfaceof the basket liner to at least a portion of the inner surface of thebasket such that at least a portion of the bonding material on the outersurface of the basket liner is adjacent to and in connecting engagementwith at least a portion of the inner surface of the basket, thepreformed basket liner remaining upright when connected to the basket.38. The method of lining of basket of claim 37 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises adecorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of thebase.
 39. The method of lining of basket of claim 37 wherein in the stepof providing a basket liner, the decorative border of the basket lineris substantially free of folds.
 40. The method of lining a basket ofclaim 37 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a sheet of material selected from the groupconsisting of polymer film, foil, paper, cellophane, fabric, burlap, andcombinations thereof.
 41. The method of lining a basket of claim 37wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basket linerfurther comprises a sheet of material having a thickness of less thanabout 3.0 mils.
 42. The method of lining a basket of claim 37 wherein inthe step of providing a basket liner, the basket liner further comprisesa sheet of material having a thickness of less than about 30 mils. 43.The method for lining a basket of claim 37 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a bondingmaterial comprising an adhesive.
 44. The method of lining a basket ofclaim 37 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a bonding material comprising a cohesive. 45.The method of lining a basket of claim 37 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket, the basket further comprises a bonding material. 46.The method of lining a basket of claim 45 wherein the basket furthercomprises a bonding material comprising an adhesive.
 47. The method oflining a basket of claim 45 wherein the basket further comprises abonding material comprising a cohesive.
 48. A method for lining abasket, comprising:providing a basket having an inner surface; providinga pre-formed basket liner, said basket liner made by forming at leastone sheet of flexible material into a predetermined shape for bothlining a basket and receiving an object, wherein the basket linercomprisesa base having a closed lower end and an open upper end and anouter periphery forming an outer surface, the open upper end intersectedby an object opening extending therethrough, said object opening formingan inner surface, a bonding material disposed upon a portion of theouter surface, wherein folds are formed in both the outer surface of thebasket liner and the inner surface of the basket liner, whereby theformed basket liner is flexible and may be substantially flattened andthen unflattended to assume the original shape of the formed basketliner without substantial loss of the preformed shape thereby providingthe flexible yet shape-sustaining nature of the formed basket liner,wherein the forming of the liner is accomplished by forming a portion ofthe sheet into a plurality of folds to form the base of the basketliner, said folds cooperating to retain the basket liner in both theflexible and formed shape, wherein the base is able to stand upright onthe closed lower end thereof; disposing the preformed basket liner intothe basket; adapting the basket liner to the basket, wherein a basketliner of a size and shape different from the size and shape of thebasket conforms to fit into the inner surface of the basket; andbondingly connecting at least a portion of the outer surface of thebasket liner to at least a portion of the inner surface of the basketsuch that at least a portion of the bonding material on the outersurface of the basket liner is adjacent to and in connecting engagementwith at least a portion of the inner surface of the basket, thepreformed basket liner remaining upright when connected to the basket.49. The method of lining of basket of claim 48 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises adecorative border extending outwardly from the open upper end of thebase.
 50. The method of lining of basket of claim 49 wherein in the stepof providing a basket liner, the decorative border of the basket lineris substantially free of folds.
 51. The method of lining a basket ofclaim 48 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a sheet of material selected from the groupconsisting of polymer film, foil, paper, cellophane, fabric, burlap, andcombinations thereof.
 52. The method of lining a basket of claim 48wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basket linerfurther comprises a sheet of material having a thickness of less thanabout 3.0 mils.
 53. The method of lining a basket of claim 48 wherein inthe step of providing a basket liner, the basket liner further comprisesa sheet of material having a thickness of less than about 30 mils. 54.The method for lining a basket of claim 48 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a bondingmaterial comprising an adhesive.
 55. The method of lining a basket ofclaim 48 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, the basketliner further comprises a bonding material comprising a cohesive. 56.The method of lining a basket of claim 48 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket, the basket further comprises a bonding material. 57.The method of lining a basket of claim 56 wherein the basket furthercomprises a bonding material comprising an adhesive.
 58. The method oflining a basket of claim 56 wherein the basket further comprises abonding material comprising a cohesive.
 59. The method of lining abasket of claim 48 wherein in the step of providing a basket liner, thebasket liner further comprises a substantial portion of folds whichextend over different distances and at various and arbitrary angles. 60.The method of lining a basket of claim 48 wherein in the step ofproviding a basket liner, the basket liner further comprises a sheet ofmaterial comprising a polymer film.